Netflix has added several more cast members to its live-action adaptation of Avatar: The Last Airbender, each a major character in the upcoming series, filling out the major characters for the show.
Actor Elizabeth Yu as the conniving princess Azula, Maria Zhang as the fearsome Kyoshi warrior Suki, Tamlyn Tomita as Suki's mother Yukari, a brand-new character; Casey Camp-Horinek as Katara and Sokka's Gran-Gran and finally, Yvonne Chapman as the powerful Avatar Kyoshi.
The character descriptions suggest that most of these characters will resemble their animated counterparts. Azula is described as "A firebending prodigy and relentless perfectionist, she'll stop at nothing to secure her position as the heir to the throne." Suki is "the intimidating leader of the Kyoshi Warriors, an elite female fighting force dedicated to protecting their community and upholding the ideals of their namesake, Avatar Kyoshi." Suki's mother, however, is described as "the fiercely protective mayor of her small village on Kyoshi Island," suggesting that she will replace Oyaji, who was the apparent leader of Kyoshi Island in the animated series.
In the animated series, Avatar Aang, Katara and Sokka encounter Suki in Season 1, shortly after leaving the South Pole. It is there that that audiences are introduced to Avatar Kyoshi, one of Aang's past lives-- as the Avatar undergoes a reincarnation cycle based on the four elements. It isn't until Season 2 that Azula, princess of the Fire Nation, makes her debut and is immediately given the task of hunting down her brother and uncle, Zuko and Iroh. Later on in the season, Azula and Suki confront each other in battle and the Kyoshi warrior is taken captive.
Many of the key characters have been cast for the live-action series. Aang will be played by Gordon Cormier, Kiawentiio plays Katara, Ian Ousley will play Sokka and playing the exiled Prince Zuko is actor Dallas Liu. Alongside them are Daniel Dae Kim as the feared Fire Lord Ozai and, playing his wise brother Iroh is Paul Sun-Hyung Lee.
While the series does not yet have a release date, Kim recently hinted that production on the live-action series will begin soon, hinting in November that the Avatar adaptation would begin filming soon. Specifics on the upcoming show's plot have yet to be released, though it's expected the Netflix series will broadly follow the plot of the source material.
The upcoming live-action series strives to be an authentic adaptation of Nickelodeon's iconic Avatar: The Last Airbender series. Albert Kim serves as showrunner and writer and will executive produce the show alongside Dan Lin, Lindsey Liberatore, Roseanne Liang and Michael Goi. Goi, Liang, Jabbar Raisani and Jet Wilkinson are attached to direct.
Source: Netflix